Kevin Pietersen has admitted that England’s director of cricket, Andrew Strauss, did the right thing by dropping him from the Ashes series.

The move sparked outrage among Pietersen’s many followers, starting a “bring back KP” campaign on social media and predicting the England team would be beaten again by Australia.

But speaking at the Sports Industry Breakfast Club in London, Pietersen admitted that Strauss’s decision, which was made in a face-to-face meeting in London only hours after he had scored a career-best 355 not out for Surrey against Leicestershire at The Oval, had been vindicated.

‘At the time I would have said it was ridiculous and nonsense,’ Pietersen said, ‘but England won the Ashes. Strauss made his decision and it’s turned out absolutely fine. Absolutely, it seems to be the right decision at the moment.

‘I love seeing England win. I have some real close buddies in that side and seeing them do the business was something that made me happy. Seeing those guys play so well and just seeing the structure and the way it has developed makes me so happy.’

The animosity between Strauss and Pietersen stretches back to the 2012 series against South Africa, when Pietersen was dropped for the third Test after apparently sending abusive text messages about his captain to the South African team. It was further soured by the release of Pietersen’s autobiography in which he had some less than flattering views of his teammates.

But he was also considered the scapegoat after England’s disastrous 5-0 Ashes whitewash in 2014.

Now, Pietersen concedes that his Test career may be over.

‘I would love to play Test cricket. If that can’t happen then I will just keep plying my trade anywhere I can over the next few years,’ he said.

Pietersen’s next career move is set to be a stint in the Pakistan Super League.

 

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